Book Description
From the bestselling author of Between Husbands and Friends and An Act of Love comes a wise, wonderful, and delightfully witty “coming of age” novel about four intrepid women who discover themselves as they were truly meant to be: passionate, alive, and ready to face the best years of their lives.
Meet Faye, Marilyn, Alice, and Shirley. Four women with skills, smarts, and secrets—all feeling over the hill and out of the race. But in a moment of delicious serendipity, they meet and realize they share more than raging hormones and lost dreams. Now as the Hot Flash Club, where the topics of motherhood, sex, and men are discussed with double servings of chocolate cake, they vow to help each other . . . and themselves.
Faye, the artist. A determinedly cheerful widow and connoisseur of control-top pantyhose, she’s struggling with creative block and an empty, lonely house. Now she’s got a tricky problem to bring to the club’s table: how can they catch her perfect son-in-law cheating on her only daughter Laura?
Shirley, the healer. Though her yoga-slender body belie her years, decades of dating losers and the strain of being broke make her feel her age. Shirley has a secret dream: a wellness spa that nurtures body and soul. But first she needs to believe in herself, in her abilities, and in her friends at the club.
Marilyn, the brain. A paleontologist who has spent so many years looking at dried-up fossils, she’s almost become one herself. Worried that her brilliant but nerdy son is about to marry the very wrong woman, she gets some help from the HFC, who transform her from a caterpillar to a butterfly, with amazing results.
Alice, the executive. Black and regal, she soared to the top of the corporate ladder. Now her shoes are murder on her arthritic back and the younger jackals are circling in for the kill. But as the inspiration behind the HFC, she’s about to discover something extraordinary: contentment.
For Faye, Shirley, Marilyn, and Alice, the time has come to use it or lose it—be it their bodies, their brains, their spirits, and their sense of fun. Together they realize that they can have it all, perhaps for the first time in their lives. And though what sags may never rise again, feeling sexy has no expiration date— and best of all, with a little help from her friends, a woman can always start over . . . and never, ever, give up what matters most.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
good book.......2007-08-21
yes finally a book of women I can relate too
It was so good I couldnt put it down
then I read book two
strikes again
another good read and I brought it back to the library and low and behold there was a third and fourth book .
Yes!!!!
FIFTY IS HOT!.......2007-08-03
"The Hot Flash Club" should be mandatory reading for every woman over 50! If one doesn't feel good about themselves before reading this little gem, they will love themselves afterwards.
Contrary to popular belief---mature women are vital, sexual, and outrageously, deliciously dynamic! Nancy Thayer creates memorable characters whom the reader will identfy with, laugh with, cry with, and love. Several story lines are woven in "THFC" like a colorful, unexpected quilt--quick, witty dialouge, fun, fun, fun!
Nothing is over, baby. Even if a few things are drooping, wrinkled, and not the same as when you were 20 years old---they are still very much alive, lovely and lush.
You are still a tigress--only at 50--you are more wise and wonderful!
A Must Read for Menopausal Women.......2007-07-19
This series is a must read for all menopausal women. You will laugh, cry, and have sympathy hot flashes. Nancy Thayer certainly knows what it's like and she has managed to find humor in all aspects of nature's cycle.
The Hot Flash Club.......2007-07-07
When I bought & read this book, I was unaware that there were sequels to it. I enjoyed this book so much that when I came to its conclusion, I was saddened to leave behind what felt like "4 good friends" - the protagonists of this novel. The 4 protagonists - Faye, Shirley, Marilyn and Alice, are each so unique - yet because of this very reason, the merging of their lives into the wonderful friendship that blossoms is terrific to follow as one turns page after page filled with what unravels to be their lives, their insecurities, their fears, joys and accomplishments. Through this, I could so easily identify with what they were each going through. The author did a marvelous job of pinpointing issues of the midlife woman and making the reader really feel one with the characters, also realizing that it's OK to feel the insecurities and special problems of this age group. I felt that the characters were very real-each in their own way. As I said, I felt the kind of sadness one feels as a reader (though not too often I might add) when a book ends that feels like its characters and setting have become like family. That is why I am so pleased now to have discovered that there are more "Hot Flash" books available by Nancy Thayer. And I've begun reading the next one already! I very highly recommend this book to every woman who is of the "Hot Flash" age - you'll find yourself within at least one of the characters - and you'll laugh and cry with how she handles the ups and downs of this special time in life.
HILARIOUS.......2007-05-30
A must read for any woman over 50 who understands what that means. A very good story line as well as the humorous parts of menopause.
Book Description
The fabulous women from The Hot Flash Club are back in top form, welcoming the stressed-out and pampering-deprived through their discreet spa doors–as Nancy Thayer returns with a witty, sexy, and heartwarming novel. The Hot Flash Club Strikes Again also introduces four new women, ready for massages and seaweed wraps, each struggling to reconcile her secret dreams, biggest fears, and deepest feelings as topsy-turvy events shake up her life.
After eighteen years of trying to make peace with her husband’s cold-as-ice mother, Polly vows to be the perfect mother-in-law: loving, accepting, and determined to keep her mouth shut. Then her son marries Amy, a Birkenstocked gal whose organic farm and family ooze a rather creepy serenity. Ever the optimist, Polly puts her best foot forward . . . so why does it end up in her mouth?
A shy and brilliant professor-to-be, Beth has lived a sheltered life. Then she meets Sonny, a rugged, sexy carpenter who sweeps her off her feet. The problem? Beth may not survive his loud, affectionate, athletic family–especially when the very beautiful and earthy woman everybody wanted Sonny to marry is still hanging around the family dinner table.
Heiress to one of New England’s oldest paper companies, Carolyn is the driving force behind the brand. Now, at thirty-seven, the workaholic executive is finally pregnant with her first child, and high blood pressure is forcing her to do something totally alien: relax. But how can she let down her guard when her seventy-something father has gone and eloped with a young bank clerk named Heather, whose rather plain looks and unassuming nature still manage to fill Carolyn with suspicion.
A free-spirited photographer, Julia has married a man she loves, but he’s come packed with baggage. Tim is a widower with a young daughter, and Julia has bravely stepped up to the plate, doing her best to provide maternal support. But as if being pinned down by the child’s slightly manipulative ways and (dare Julia say it) spoiled behavior wasn’t enough, there’s Tim’s ex-mother-in-law, whose meddling is getting nastier by the week.
For Polly, Beth, Carolyn, and Julia, the time has come to stand up for what matters–for their passions, their hearts, and themselves. As they maneuver through family drama and embrace unexpected change, they come to find that life is much easier (and a lot more fun) when you’ve got friends, wine, and chocolate along for the ride.
From the Hardcover edition.
Download Description
The fabulous women from The Hot Flash Club are back in top form, welcoming the stressed–out and pampering–deprived through their discreet spa doors—as Nancy Thayer returns with a witty, sexy, and heartwarming novel. The Hot Flash Club Strikes Again also introduces four new women, ready for massages and seaweed wraps, each struggling to reconcile her secret dreams, biggest fears, and deepest feelings as topsy–turvy events shake up her life.
After eighteen years of trying to make peace with her husband’s cold–as–ice mother, Polly vows to be the perfect mother–in–law: loving, accepting, and determined to keep her mouth shut. Then her son marries Amy, a Birkenstocked gal whose organic farm and family ooze a rather creepy serenity. Ever the optimist, Polly puts her best foot forward…so why does it end up in her mouth?
A shy and brilliant professor–to–be, Beth has lived a sheltered life. Then she meets Sonny, a rugged, sexy carpenter who sweeps her off her feet. The problem? Beth may not survive his loud, affectionate, athletic family—especially when the very beautiful and earthy woman everybody wanted Sonny to marry is still hanging around the family dinner table.
Heiress to one of New England’s oldest paper companies, Carolyn is the driving force behind the brand. Now, at thirty–seven, the workaholic executive is finally pregnant with her first child, and high blood pressure is forcing her to do something totally alien: relax. But how can she let down her guard when her seventy–something father has gone and eloped with a young bank clerk named Heather, whose rather plain looks and unassuming nature still manage to fill Carolyn with suspicion.
A free–spirited photographer, Julia has married a man she loves, but he’s come packed with baggage. Tim is a widower with a young daughter, and Julia has bravely stepped up to the plate, doing her best to provide maternal support. But as if being pinned down by the child’s slightly manipulative ways and (dare Julia say it) spoiled behavior wasn’t enough, there’s Tim’s ex–mother–in–law, whose meddling is getting nastier by the week.
For Polly, Beth, Carolyn, and Julia, the time has come to stand up for what matters—for their passions, their hearts, and themselves. As they maneuver through family drama and embrace unexpected change, they come to find that life is much easier (and a lot more fun) when you’ve got friends, wine, and chocolate along for the ride.
Customer Reviews:
A good story for the holidays!.......2005-12-28
When my 23-year-old daughter gave me this book as a Christmas present, I was taken back! Yea, I feel like I'm a card-carrying member of the hot flash club (which I didn't know existed until she gave me this book), but I was surprised she would find something I might actually enjoy reading. I read it within a 24 hour period, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
This story looks at the lives of four women, three who are very different, and how they resolve the problems of their lives: Carolyn, a 37-year old executive, juggling her family fortune, her job within the family business, a complicated first pregnancy, and then when Father marries a much younger woman (THAT was predictable!). Beth, young and alone, intelligent and goal-oriented, meeting a soul mate from a working class family with an original manipulative mother who wants to rule her kids, their lives, and their loves. Julia, the not so wicked stepmother to a troubled young girl, will never win the respect of her husband's former mother-in-law. Polly, who loses her husband to death, her son and grandson to a "ME" oriented earth mother, and then her mother-in-law's pending death. These women work through their problems, and fortunately for them, they do have the love, respect, and support from good husbands as well as forming a lasting friendship with one another.
What I liked about the story: the men in their lives were important and they valued and respected the women. Not all of the endings were happily resolved. (Beth still realizes that she doesn't have Bobbi's approval, never will, but she did confront Bobbi.) None of the women felt sorry for themselves nor expected others to do so. They just worked through their problems, not always solving them, but still they lessened them somewhat.
For light-hearted, good ole chick lit, this is great!
Disappointed with the Ending.......2005-11-29
This sequel started out completely enjoyable, however, it left me high and dry with the Beth/Sonny story and the ragged conclusion. Beth seemed unresolved in her relationship w/Sonny, only compensated in the fact that she was finally able to face Bonnie, however, I never could tell where that was going after-the-fact. It seemed as if she was getting irritated w/Sonny for his lack of compromise in their relationship, however, that was never really resolved as well. The last few pages were a complete letdown and some of the sub-plots were much too drawn out. I did enjoy hearing how Marilyn, Alice, Shirley and Faye were doing (a little disappointed as well when there was no follow-up to Alice's company's request to re-hire her). I think the story that was the most complete was Julia's even though Polly and Carolyn were somewhat resolved, but not to the point where it was even that interesting. The book held my interest in the fact that I wanted to see how everyone turned out and it fell very short at the conclusion.
Nothing like some chocolate to help deal with hot flashes .......2005-06-16
Polly struggles to keep the peace with her mother-in-law. Beth has fallen in love with her soul mate, Sonny, but can't seem to fight off insecurity. Carolyn fights to keep her family business "in business", while dealing with the side effects of pregnancy. And last, Julia struggles to deal with yet another mother-in-law who will stop at nothing to have her husband's troublesome daughter, Belinda, move in with them.
The Hot Flash Club strikes again with four new women struggling with relationships, and mother-in-laws. They all find comfort in wine and chocolate and through friendship.
Once again, Nancy Thayer gives the readers a strong look at the complexities of the extended family. Though the characters are slightly younger than in the original piece, The Hot Flash Club Strikes again still teaches us "middle-aged" women and those looking to get there that you are never too old to enjoy life and live it to the fullest. What would be better than taking a few friends, wine and some chocolate along the way?
Rolanda,
Nothing BUT Page Turners Book Club
Good sequel.......2005-06-05
The fun and friendship introduced in the first book about the Hot Flash Club are continued in this new book. The original four women are still in evidence and there are some new developments in their lives, but the spotlighted characters are a new group of four women. Polly is a well-meaning person who can never seem to please her mother-in-law, Beth is being opposed by her fiance's mother, Carolyn is worried about her unborn child and her newly-married father, and Julia is dealing with a mute step-daughter and her disapproving mother-in-law. The women continue to help and encourage one another, and the plot moves along even more smoothly than the first book. This is a wonderful book for women over 50 and for those who are preparing for the day when they will be.
Good read but somewhat confusing.......2005-05-06
Nancy Thayer always weaves a rich, textured tale for readers and The Hot Flash Club Strikes Again is no exception. The four women from her previous book, The Hot Flash Club, return to pamper four new stressed-out and weary women at their spa, The Haven.
This book introduces each woman and then rotates her story throughout the book. And in between we catch up on the original Hot Flash Club members.
Polly doesn't want to interfere in her son's marriage but does want to make peace with her cold, disapproving mother-in-law who always interfered in her marriage. Beth, a shy Ph.D. student, meets Sonny and fights to survive his mother Bobbie who really wants him to marry his beautiful, sexy former girlfriend, Robin. Paper company heiress Carolyn is suspicious about her father's young wife. Julia has married the man of her dreams but has to maneuver a mind field consisting of a manipulative daughter and a former mother-in-law who insinuates herself in their marriage.
The women must learn to take care of themselves and stand up for the things that are important to them. They learn, with the help of each other, that life is fuller, richer and easier when they take friends, wine and chocolate along for the ride.
While I enjoyed the book, there were just too many characters for me to grab hold of. Not only are there eight women but a host of children, in-laws, grandchildren, husbands and significant others. Whew! I became confused more than once. While I've read many of Nancy Thayer's novel, I hadn't read The Hot Flash Club- and that might have contributed to my confusion. If you can overcome the numerous characters and plot lines, you will find this book a wonderful heartwarming read. The storyline is solid and interesting. You'll love some of the characters and some will make you want to scream, and that alone keeps the pages turning. I wanted to know just what happened.
Book Description
Since opening up their day spa, The Haven, the wonderful women of the Hot Flash Club have been busy indulging the beleaguered, nerve-frazzled throngs. Now, in Nancy Thayer’s hilarious new Hot Flash novel, it’s the friends’ turn to grab some soothing, and much-deserved R&R.
When a long-time Haven client asks the gals to housesit her Nantucket hideaway for the summer, they’re beyond thrilled; the cozy island enclave is the perfect place to shop, swim, chill, and plan Marilyn’s upcoming wedding to Ian, her Scottish fiancé. And Marilyn desperately needs the break, since Ian’s grown son has crashed at the couple’s place with no departure date in sight.
Soon after they arrive, the other hot flashers surrender to their own summer flings: Shirley entertains a steamy dalliance with a scruffy, sexy local fisherman that could lead to something deeper; Faye finds her dream house, but restoring it could be a costly nightmare; craft-maven Polly is enthralled by the island’s bounty, from shell art to lightship baskets; and even hardboiled Alice swoons with romantic adventure–or is it seasickness?
But this lovefest among the sand and ocean breezes is not without its consequences. Each woman must determine for herself what she is willing to give up in order to hold onto what she has found–and all of them fear that Shirley is on the brink of making a huge mistake, one that threatens their harmony and their business. But these concerns may be eclipsed by the mystery surrounding the disappearance of family heirlooms at the house where they are staying, and rumors that the place harbors spirits other than Grey Goose and Tanqueray.
Nancy Thayer continues her hugely successful Hot Flash series with this wickedly funny, delightfully bawdy tale. These irresistible women spring to life–along with their passions, their sorrows, their joys, and, most importantly, their friendship. So pack your bags and join these fabulous five for a season of fun, sun, love, sex, and estrogen therapy.
Customer Reviews:
Hot. Hot. Hot........2007-08-18
I am in mourning--because I just finished The Hot Flash Club Chills Out and I miss all of the girls, their relationships, adventures, dreams, and lives. And I miss Nantucket! I can still feel the salt water upon my tongue and the cool breeze upon my cheeks.
Have you ever read a book that makes you love the characters?--- I mean, really care about them-- not want them to leave your world? This is one of those books. Thayer makes you want to have all of these hot flashers in your own life, go on vacation with them, have a glass of wine with them.
I love the idea of women in their 60s giggling over meeting a handsome man, discussing the George Clooney look-alike waiter with the tight butt, and having organisms. It's like saying to society, "You're wrong! You don't know sh## about us!"
Of course, Thayer adds other characters in the book to add interest and intrigue such as the old ladies living next door and the rugged, rough Harry and his golden retriever. She continually adds more color and delight to her pages, which women like me appreciate.
These books are for every woman. She does not need to be 50 or 60 to love them... But she must understand one thing for sure----she will arrive there one day with the Hot Flash Club. And can still be sexy, vivacious, creative, meaningful, sexual, and unbelievably significant.
Come back, girls! I am waiting impatiently, Ms. Thayer. for the next exploration and adventure!
Tired of the Same Old Story............2007-03-02
The original Hot Flash Book was great. By now, I am growing tired of the characters. Their problems are starting to sound kind of whiney. There are a few, (less than I would have liked) funny moments. The hot flashes, and weak bladders just aren't that funny anymore. I think the author has exhausted these charactersand their stories.
Fun, Fun, Fun!.......2007-01-15
This is definitely the best of the four delightful "Hot Flash" books. I only wish it had a different title so I didn't have to hide the cover on the commuter train!
I have to be honest and say that even ten years ago, I probably would not have read these books. But being a woman of a certain age, and seeing real, scary problems (the fear of losing one's looks, one's health, one's mate; problems with grown children, money, housing and so forth; problems with aging parents) handled with such grace and humor is a real blessing.
Once again, our intrepid group faces all the humiliations of getting a bit older but also manages to have a pretty good time. One of The Haven's Board Members has had a hip operation, and asks if the women would like to stay at her home in Nantucket for the summer, in order to look after it. Some trinkets have been disappearing from the house, there is a rumored ghost, and the house itself is one of Nantucket's historic landmarks.
So the "girls" go off to Nantucket, where it happens that author Nancy Thayer lives. By the time I was done with the book, I was dying to live in Nantucket too, even though I've never been there.
There are a few dropped plot lines, a few things that could never happen in real life, and a few bloopers, but all in all, this is just as fun a read as one can imagine. I don't recommend it for twentysomethings, but those of us who are a "bit" older will love it.
The Hot Flash Club Chills Out.......2006-11-10
This was a fantastic book! Nancy Thayer keeps your interests throughout by continuing the ongoings of the characters. The ladies have a fun time house watching, while trying to stay the course back home. I can't wait to read Hot Flas Club Holidays.
Fun in the Sun.......2006-11-05
This book was a pleasant and easy read. I just love books that have anything to do with Nantucket. I could see in my mind so easily the places that were mentioned in this timely book for women in their menopause years. A quick and easy read that I was always anxious to pick up and resume my reading.
Book Description
Brought back into print in the 1990s to wide acclaim, re-designed new editions of Robert van Gulik's Judge Dee Mysteries are now available.
Written by a Dutch diplomat and scholar during the 1950s and 1960s, these lively and historically accurate mysteries have entertained a devoted following for decades. Set during the T'ang dynasty, they feature Judge Dee, a brilliant and cultured Confucian magistrate disdainful of personal luxury and corruption, who cleverly selects allies to help him navigate the royal courts, politics, and ethnic tensions in imperial China. Robert van Gulik modeled Judge Dee on a magistrate of that name who lived in the seventh century, and he drew on stories and literary conventions of Chinese mystery writing dating back to the Sung dynasty to construct his ingenious plots.
Necklace and Calabash finds Judge Dee returning to his district of Poo-yang, where the peaceful town of Riverton promises a few days' fishing and relaxation. Yet a chance meeting with a Taoist recluse, a gruesome body fished out of the river, strange guests at the Kingfisher Inn, and a princess in distress thrust the judge into one of the most intricate and baffling mysteries of his career.
An expert on the art and erotica as well as the literature, religion, and politics of China, van Gulik also provides charming illustrations to accompany his engaging and entertaining mysteries.
Customer Reviews:
One of the best in the series.......2007-06-25
Necklace and Calabash has long been one of my favorites in the Judge Dee series. The judge finds himself alone, without his usual assistants, and facing several baffling problems, all of which are solved with his usual insight and aplomb. The characters are beautifully drawn, particularly the mysterious Taoist "Master Gourd" and the princess. It is well written and very much worth your while.
Tao and Palace Intrigues.......2000-05-11
"Necklace and Calabash" initiates the third Judge Dee series, which Heinemann Publishers dubbed as "More Judge Dee Mysteries". This third and last series was conceived at the beginning of 1966 in Tokyo so that van Gulik would explore more directly the character of Judge Dee, who would solve cases without the help of his assistants. "Necklace and Calabash" proved to be the penultimate Judge Dee Mystery.
As van Gulik notes in the book's postscript, the calabash or bottle gourd has played an important role in Chinese philosophy and art. In "Necklace and Calabash" Judge Dee, the quintessential Confucianist, meets a Taoist monk who emphasizes to him the importance of emptiness - as in the emptiness of a calabash. With the pressure mounting on a timely solution to the theft of a princess's pearl necklace, Judge Dee empties himself and discovers the key to the mystery.
Once the puzzles are solved, Judge Dee springs into action. In his temporary exalted position as Imperial Inquisitor, he conducts himself with equanimity, even when dealing with the highest officials of the Water Palace; incorruptible, he dispatches the cases fearlessly and unmoved by temptations of wealth or status.
Not For Me.......1998-09-20
I found this book rather dull perhaps because I generally dislike "period" mysteries. A few clever paragraphs to be sure, but in between these were alot of somewhat stereotypical characterizations and forgettable dialogue. Those who enjoy period pieces and all their assumptions and artificiality may like this novel but I did not.
Average customer rating:
- Character-driven fiction of the VERY highest quality . . .
- Stunning: heads and shoulders above the first two books
- One Of The Best Fantasy Books I've Ever Read
- The apex of the Morgaine series.
- TENSION ... that makes you beg for more.
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Fires of Azeroth (Morgaine Cycle)
C. J. Cherryh
Manufacturer: DAW
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
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Cherryh, C.J.
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| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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General
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| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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General
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Similar Items:
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Gate of Ivrel (Morgaine Saga, Book 1)
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Exile's Gate (Morgaine Saga, Book 4)
ASIN: 0886773237 |
Download Description
The Gates were relics of a lost era. The Union Science Bureau surmised that they had once linked a whole network of civilizations throughout the galaxy-an empire ruled by a ruthless race known as the qhal. This qhal empire had spanned both Space and Time, for their Gates warped time, enabling qhal travelers to step from point to point across light-years unaged. It was even possible to travel into the future. However, intervention in backtime could affect entire worlds and civilizations, could change the course of galactic history, could destroy empires and possibly even implode time itself...and this was what the Science Bureau believed had happened-sometime, somewhere in the unreachable past, an arrogant power-drunk qhal had done the unthinkable, and warped the very fabric of space and time.
Morgaine: pale in coloring and as tall as the tallest men, it seems clear that this mysterious traveler is a descendent of the long-vanished qhal. Aided by a single warrior honor-bound to serve her, it is her mission to travel from world to world sealing the ancient Gates whose very existence threatens the integrity of the universe. But will she have the power to follow her quest to its eventual conclusion-to the Ultimate Gate or the end of time itself?
Customer Reviews:
Character-driven fiction of the VERY highest quality . . ........2007-05-29
Wow -- what a climax! The final extended battle scene in this third volume of the trilogy, the summing up of all the threads of plot and character that began in Andur-Kursh months ago -- or maybe thousands of years ago -- all are brought together here. And Cherryh's skill in laying out the scene is such that you don't know what's going to happen until it does. Where the first volume was set in a land of mountains and crags, and the second in a drowning, swampy world, Azeroth is a land of vast forest and vaster plains. The qhal in this world have become the best they could be over the centuries, guarding the forests and the villages of men, laying down laws that ensure peace, and protecting the Gates of their world. Unfortunately, this also makes them difficult to persuade of the need for violence to deal with the scores of thousands of invaders from Hiuaj and Shiun who came through the Gate from their dying home world at the end of the last volume. Vanye is separated again from Morgaine, to whom he is bound by an unbreakable oath, though it's clear now that his regard for his mistress is far stronger than any oath he could take. The character of Roh, Vanye's cousin, inhabited now by an ancient, shape-changing qhal, is also developed with great adeptness and considerable sympathy. Finally, the crescendo of the final chapters is nearly unmatched in fantasy or science fiction, even in Cherryh's other works.
Stunning: heads and shoulders above the first two books.......2002-05-04
I'm the guy who wrote reviews more or less trashing the first two books of the series, largely because of the repetitive quality of the narrative. The first book does set up the characters and plot, but still dwelled on campires and cold food and finding shelter all too much. The second book continued that trend, but in some ways was worse: e.g. it spent the first few chapters on a character whom the writer just gives up on soon thereafter, and it was repetitious thematically in addition to narratively. The little bit of action suffered from Cherryh's penchant for being cryptic at the crucial moments of confrontation. "Fires of Azeroth" stands in sharp contrast to both, and it rewards the reader who decides to keep reading. The book flies by with fascinating, unique creatures, deep, complex, and fleshed-out characters of all kinds, towns (instead of just wilderness hacking), confrontations, plausible character development and transformation, a very delicate authorial touch on the subtle romantic tension between the two main characters, and action more gripping than I've read in ages. Cherryh still suffers from a tendency to write a bit cryptically during the action scenes, but these make sense (compared to "Wells" the action of which I thought was pretty close to incomprehensible to the reader) here, and are engaging. That's to be preferred, perhaps, to writers who merely dictate the action, or, like Tolkein, keep deferring it (in my opinion). A huge surprise, this is one of the best fantasy books I have ever read. I'd read the first book at a good pace, really blow through the second book, and then savor this one, the third.
One Of The Best Fantasy Books I've Ever Read.......2001-09-27
This is One Of The Best Fantasy Books I've Ever Read.
The apex of the Morgaine series........1998-07-01
If you can only read one of the Morgaine trilogy, let it be this one. As with "Well Of Shiuan", this book presents important moral questions to Nhi Vanye and to the reader. But unlike "Well..." this one is far less dark, and not all the characters Vanye and Morgaine encounter are quite as ruthless and self-serving as most of the characters in the previous novel in the series. The dealings of Morgaine and Vanye with the peace-loving humans and qhal of the forest adds a Tolkien-esque air to this particular installment. All this coupled with the development of Roh's character, and Vanye's developing relationship with him, makes for superb reading.
TENSION ... that makes you beg for more........1997-01-03
This whole series, consisting of "Gate of Ivrel", "Well of Shiuan", "Fires of Azeroth", and "Exile's Gate", is my favorite of any author's, and I've read A LOT.
Cherryh's style is clean and dry, but at the same time very intense and passionate. Instead of using flowery words and melodrama to spoon-feed emotion to the reader, she uses common words and short, almost aggressive phrasing. The tension and passion and danger are drawn with a sharpness and clarity that is almost painful. A deceptively simple word or glance between these characters, whether friends or enemies, will at times bring that tension to a breathless peak, but without the expected release afterwards.
This is not an easy, exciting Harlequin-esque roller-coaster of peaks and valleys. This is a sharp ridge on a bare mountain with an occasional rock slide.
This is not a graceful Puccini aria that makes you want to weep and feel melancholy. This is avant-garde jazz where a single painfully high note is drawn out in the background for so long that you find yourself begging for a release that you fear may never come but then again do you really want it to?
It's exhausting, but in the best sense.
And about the 4th time I read the series, I found that it was funny too! It is, of course, a very dry humor, but it's there. And not a joke or eccentric comedic bit player to be seen.
It's easy to fall in love with these characters. They're very different from each other, but they're both excruciatingly familiar!
Cherryh creates the perfect male characters for a straight female audience. Cherryh's men are the kind many of us would create for ourselves. (Which is very different from the men male writers create.) Cherryh's men are capable of great valor and honor, but also of very deep emotion and affection, and self-reflection.
Also, her men often feel strong love and affection and respect for other men, without there being any sexual element to it. This is not only unique, but very difficult. The ability to create tension between male characters who love each other without it reading like sexual tension or a Sunday night "family drama" is something I rarely see. I appreciate it when I do.
My circle of friends has a shorthand way of expressing our reaction to this exhausting mix of physical danger and emotional tension, just by groaning "AAAAAHHHHGHHHHGHGHHHHHG!!!". If one of us starts off a conversation this way, another might say "Are you dying, or did you just finish a Cherryh?"
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Fires of Azeroth
C.J. Cherryh
Manufacturer: Daw Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HJK6TE |
Product Description
Fantasy Series. "Scattered about the galaxy were the time-space gates of a vanished but not forgotten alien race. In their time, long before the rise of the native civilaztions, they had terrorized a hundred worlds - not from villainy but from folly, from tampering with the stands that held the universe together."
Product Description
Multiple books shipped as one item for your convenience. Save on Shipping/Handling charges.
Average customer rating:
- Cured my Migraines
- Would make a good magazine article
- Now it all begins to make sense
- Immediate Relief!
- Very enlightening book
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Food Allergies: The Complete Guide to Understanding and Relieving Your Food Allergies
William E. Walsh
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer
ASIN: 047138268X |
Book Description
"I wholeheartedly recommend Food Allergies."
-Christopher M. Foley, M.D.
"A powerful key to health. Dr. Walsh's principles have revolutionized my personal health."
-Margaret L. Williams, D.C.
"The information in this book demystifies food and chemical allergies and gives patients courage."
-Loren C. Stockton, D.C.
"This book will help many people with symptoms and discomforts they have had for a long time."
-Walid A. Mikhail, M.D.
Food allergies can be subtle, insidious, and dangerous. Every year millions of people suffer from migraine headaches, persistent coughs, sore throats, eczema, abdominal discomfort, tiredness, and irritability-and don't realize that their symptoms come from the food they eat. This book-the first comprehensive book on food allergies written by a noted allergist-helps us understand how different foods cause pain and discomfort and tells us how to identify the foods that have been afflicting us-so we can avoid them before the symptoms strike. In Food Allergies, Dr. William Walsh shares his extensive knowledge about the cause of food allergies, which foods and chemicals to avoid, and, ultimately, which foods will help you feel your very best. Filled with dozens of enlightening case studies and engaging writing, this unique guide offers a detailed, easy-to-follow diet tailored for adults and children who may be prone to allergies. It also includes clinically tested plans for cooking and advice on how to avoid troublesome foods at the store and when eating out.
Download Description
Many people are allergic to types of food, and to the chemicals that are in them. This book helps people to discover the foods that have been afflicting them, learn how some foods react to the body in different people, and discover how to avoid troublesome foods at the store, eating out, and dining at home.
Customer Reviews:
Cured my Migraines.......2006-06-24
I have been migraine-free for five years since reading this book!
I had tried Imitrex, acupuncture, physical therapy, massage, biofeedback, chiropractics, herbs, oral sprays and everything I had heard of for migraines except Botox injections and nerve severance.
My general practitioner, second opinion doctors and neurologists told me to avoid red wine, Chinese food and chocolate. Their "migraine diet" came from the back of an Imitrex pamphlet (keep in mind, this was five years ago).
When I told my doctor about my self-diagnosis of food intolerances from this book, she tried to act like she already knew this. Then why didn't she diagnose me? Why didn't she put me on an elimination diet? Why didn't she send me to a nutritionist, allergist or immunologist? Why did she put a teenage liver on codeine permanently and say I would have to live with it or grow out of it?
If your doctor is not part of the Nutritional Enlightenment, YOU NEED THIS BOOK to help you find the right specialist.
Even if this book isn't all inclusive, it will introduce you to the basic concepts and terms to Google and talk to your practitioner about.
I am not sensationalizing that this book changed my life. I almost didn't graduate high school because of migraines, and now I have a computer science degree.
Would make a good magazine article.......2003-07-24
Though it does contain some interesting information, the book seems to be written for somebody with the IQ of a donut. He starts by detailing all his education, and then continues to talk down to the reader. He also repeats himself without adding any detail. (Yes, we learn that he really likes corn on the cob!) The contents of the book could easily be boiled down to 10 pages without missing anything important. Also, don't expect to find much of anything concerning 'classic' food allergies here.
As a saving grace, there are a few nice charts and tables at the end to help pinpoint MSG content in fast foods and elsewhere.
Now it all begins to make sense.......2002-05-19
This book is practically an encyclopedia of food allergies written for ordinary people. The author is a physician and allergy specialist with almost 40 years of experience in the field. He describes how in the beginning of his career, he had not been trained to recognize food allergies in his patients, but over the years, he became more and more sensitized to the kinds of symptoms that food allergies can cause. Over time, he noted that many of his patients were allergic to the same common foods, especially what he calls the MALS foods, MSG, acidic foods, low calorie sweeteners, and sugar. The skin tests that are so much relied on for detecting environmental allergies are less informative with food allergies. In response, he has developed a method for identifying food allergies that uses a diet that eliminates common allergy causing foods and then gradually re-introduces them while the patient notes when the symptoms lessen or begin to reoccur. This diet is described in the book, together with possible rotation menus and lists of additional foods that cause problems for some people and may need to be avoided.
If you try to read this book from cover-to-cover, you will find that it is rather repetitive at times, and the organization seems in some places to be more stream-of-consciousness rather than logical. At times the avoidance of technical language or explanations seems almost evasive, and it's amazing how a doctor could write an entire book about allergies without once using the word histamine. Since the book is addressed to general readers, it does not contain in-text references to scientific studies. Nevertheless, the bibliography is replete with such references, adding credence to Walsh's message.
This book confirmed many of the phenomena that I had observed about my own food sensitivities. For example, Walsh explains that allergies are additive, so that's why I can pet a cat so long as it's not hay fever season, or I can drink a small glass of milk now and then, but not a big glass every day. Walsh also suggests that readers should trust their instincts- -if they have a strong feeling that a food is making them sick, there is a good chance that it really is. After reading this book, there is no longer any question in my mind- -food can make you sick, and you can feel a lot better once you figure out what you've been eating that is causing you trouble.
Immediate Relief!.......2001-08-18
Immediate relief! That was my reward for reading this book and putting it into practice. It has my full recommendation for anyone suffering from the effects of allergies. This author is sympathtic and the book is easy to read. It is apparent that the doctor has scaled his vocabulary WAY DOWN to facilitate the reader's ability to concentrate on WHAT he is saying, rather than be dazzled by how brilliant he is. After battling allergies for 25 years, he has brought me new weapons. I thank the good doctor and am in his debt.
Very enlightening book.......2001-03-01
I found out about this book at truthinlabeling.org and have found it *very* helpful in helping to understand some digestive problems I've had - particularly after eating out, and more often at Asian restaurants. I have 3 friends with similar problems and they have all been enlightened by this book. I'm more careful about what I eat, and I'm being further helped by some plant enzyme therapy. This book was a wonderful catalyst to help me take control of my life!!!
Books:
- The Jasmine Moon Murder (Tea Shop Mystery)
- The Killing Sky
- The Last Heiress (Friarsgate Inheritance, Book 4)
- The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner (Contemporary Fiction, Plume)
- The Mangrove Coast (Prime Crime Mysteries)
- The Medusa Stone (Philip Mercer)
- The Miernik Dossier
- The Monstrous Races in Medieval Art and Thought (Medieval Studies (Syracuse, N.Y.).)
- The Passion of Artemisia
- The Persian Pickle Club
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